Menopause is usually linked with things like hot flushes, brain fog, anxiety and mood swings, but there are plenty of other less common symptoms that don’t get talked about as much.
Many women experience symptoms which cause them to get concerned that something serious is wrong with them, when in fact, what they are experiencing are unknown symptoms of menopause.
In this blog, I thought it would be helpful to go through some of the more unusual symptoms that can pop up, so you’ll know what to expect and feel a bit more prepared for the journey ahead.
New allergies
If you're not someone who has had allergies before, you may find you become more sensitive to some foods, flowers, perfumes or body creams. I found that garlic, which I love, now gives me stomach pain.
For people who are more prone to allergies, these could increase in strength due to our bodies creating more histamine as other hormones decrease.
2. Altered vision and/or spacial awareness
Reduced levels of oestrogen can affect your sight, so you may find that you are bumping into tables (before you've sipped that glass of wine!), going to put a glass on the table and missing the table, or, finding it increasingly hard to park your car into small spaces. My reverse parking has become a joke amongst my children now!
3. Reappearance of old injuries
This is a very unexpected symptom, but I know of friends who have started to feel pain in parts of their body where they had an injury years ago! The reason for this could be that oestrogen reduces inflammation, so as the hormone decreases, old pains re-emerge!
4. Change in voice
A change in pitch, a lack of volume or reduced power in your voice can affect your confidence. If you frequently use your voice in your job, such as giving presentations or heading up team meetings, the changes in the coarseness or pitch of your voice can cause you to feel vulnerable.
The voice is very sensitive to small changes in the body including the hormonal fluctuations throughout your menopause journey. The tone of your voice depends on oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone, so as these alter, your voice can change.
5. Pins and needles
Also known as paresthesia, you may experience a sensation which feels like you're receiving lots of tiny electric shocks. Some people liken it to a feeling of ants crawling all over their body!
This rather unpleasant symptom is due to the tiny nerve endings not receiving as much oestrogen as they used to. Sometimes getting moving or taking the pressure off the affected area can help.
6. Changes in body odour
This isn't a symptom many women want to admit! Women may find that after a workout or a hot flush, their body odour seems stronger than before.
As oestrogen levels reduce, our bodies can create higher levels of testosterone, which can attract more bacteria to our sweat, making the smell more unpleasant!
7. Gum disease
Your teeth and mouth are very susceptible to any hormonal changes that occur in the body during the menopause journey, reducing your body's ability to fight off minor infections and keep a healthy balance of good and harmful bacteria in your mouth.
8. Burning mouth
A reduction in oestrogen can cause saliva production to go down which can lead to a dry or burning sensation in your mouth.
I have recently developed an intolerance to pineapple, which, after I eat it, makes my mouth feel like it's on fire! I was comforted to know I'm not alone. About 40% of women have reported experiencing this burning mouth sensation during perimenopause and menopause.
Every woman's experience of menopause is different. Some women never experience any symptoms and others may experience many of the 34 recognised effects of the hormonal changes during the menopausal process. I hope that this list helps you to recognise some of the more unusual symptoms and reduces your anxiety should they occur.
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